Ad Spotlights The Mental Health Crisis Of Healthcare Workers With New ‘Hopeline’
Video Screenshot via Frontline19
Since the COVID-19 pandemic first surfaced early last year, it’s taken a toll on all of us — be it physically, mentally, or emotionally. However, one group of people who’ve been hit the hardest by its negative effects are frontline workers, who had to work through the worst of times.
Even though we’re slowly returning to normalcy, the effects on healthcare workers haven’t gone unnoticed.
According to UK charity Frontline19, 40% of healthcare workers are suffering from PTSD as a result of the pandemic. A recent CDC Survey backed this up, showing 53% of public healthcare workers in the US reported mental health symptoms in the wake of COVID-19.
To highlight the efforts of these frontline workers, as well as to allow the public to give back, Frontline19 has launched Hopeline19 — a free phone service enabling the public to leave messages of support. Simply dial 0808 19 665 19, and press 1 to leave a message, or 2 to listen.
This hotline is being promoted together with a new advertorial campaign by adam&eveDDB, displaying the myriad emotions critical workers have gone through in the one and a half years since the whole world descended into chaos.
As per Fast Company, every story portrayed in the advertisement is based on a true story they’ve heard from someone in the NHS. Those casted in the campaign are also working within the health organization.
Claire Goodwin-Fee, who first started Frontline19 in March 2020 to counsel workers, has seen over 3,000 volunteers join her non-profit since. It provides NHS and other critical workers with free counselling, in closed, confidential sessions.
“They are struggling with almost incomprehensible, battle-like experiences without adequate support. We wanted to create a platform for the voices of these amazing human beings, who have worked through the most horrific experiences,” Goodwin-Fee told Fast Company.
“They need to know that we are here to offer support and to create sustainable long-term change for them.”
Take a look at the heart-wrenching video below, and follow the directions to leave a message of thanks for frontline workers if you’re in the UK.
[via Fast Company, cover image via Frontline19]
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